Apparatus for siphoning water from oil treating structure



Jan. 6, 1953 E. R.'WIL.LIAMS APPARATUS FOR SIPHONING WATER FROM OIL TREATING STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 //1 gma.

INVENTOR. E/mer R l V/V/fd Mfi BY 47'7'0RNEK Jan. 6, 1953 E. R. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR SIPHONING WATER FROM OIL TREATING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 10. 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented .ian. 5, 1953 UNHTED STAT @TENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR SIPHQNING WATER FBI OBI OIL TREATING STRUCTURE Elmer R. Williams, Springfield, Mo.

Application February 10, 1950, Serial No. 143,473

(Cl. 2l(l51) l Claims.

This invention relates to the production, handling, refining and treating of petroleum and related products and has for its primary object the provision of apparatus for and a method of draining from a treater, water that has been removed from the petroleum products in the treater, all automatically and at a rate dependent accurately upon the amount of Water initially contained by the treated products and removed in the treater.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a method of removing water together with apparatus for removing such water from a treater for petroleum products that improves upon the water siphoning system disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 46,496, filed August 27, 1948 and entitled Method and Apparatus for Treating Emulsion Emanating from Natural Oil Wells, this being a continuation in part of said co-pending application.

Water siphoning systems and like systems for draining water from oil treaters are generally not entirely satisfactory because of the fact that such valves as may be used to control the out-flow of the water, develop leaks and other mechanical defects from time to time resulting in a drainage of the water faster than is desired and thereby overcoming the necessary balance or equilibrium of the entire system. Furthermore, because of such leakage and because of the overall arrangement of parts of conventional systems of this character, it is virtually impossible to measure the amount of water through use of water meters presently available on the open market.

Accordingly, it is one of the most important objects of the present invention to provide an automatic siphoning or removal system capable of permitting the use of a suitable water meter whereby the user may accurately determine the amount of water Within the oil being pumped and being removed therefrom by the treater.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a water removal system for petroleum treaters wherein valve leakage and defects occurring therein, will be of no significance and have no adverse effects upon the overall operation of the siphoning system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water removal system for petroleum treaters operable upon the differential indensities of oil and water within the treater and having parts for automatically draining water from the bottom of one compartment of the treater when the proportion of water to oil in the said one compartment increases as a result of removal 2 thereof from the petroleum passing into the compartment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water drainage system as above set forth wherein the same principle .of difference in densities is utilized to remove the water from a second compartment as the same flows thereinto from the aforementioned first compartment, operable to vary the level of water in one branch of a siphoning system joining the compartments, all to the end that upon any change in the proportion of oil to water in the second compartment, more or less water Will be drained entirely from the system automatically and without operator attention.

A further object of the present invention is to provide diaphragm controlled stop valves, not only for the ultimate water outlet but for the discharge end of the oil, both dependent upon the head of liquid in the system and the changes thereof, to drain the water from the system at a constant rate, dependent upon the rate of flow of water into the system along with the petroleum products being treated.

All of the aforesaid principles of operation are set forth in the following specification and other objects will, therefore, become necessarily apparent, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of substantially the lower half of an oil treater having apparatus for siphoning water from the oil made in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 1a is a side elevational view of the uppermost half of the treater and water siphoning a-pparatus' therefor, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 1b is a side elevational view of the water drainage control normally coupled with parts shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectionalview taken on line IIlI of Fig. 1 looking in .the direction of the arrows.

in the drawings there is illustrated a treater for petroleum products having in part conventional elements and in part structure as set rorth in my aforesaid .co -pending application. The overall operation of the treater however, is varied through employment of an improved water draining system therefor. Accordingly, it is obviops that while a particular type of treater has been illustrated, such water siphoning means might well be adapted for use with treaters varying from that herein illustrated.

The treater per se has an elongated, upright tank that is preferably cylindrical in crosssection and as will hereinafter appear, is connected in with all of the component parts thereof to present an entirely closed pressurized system.

Tank l0 may be mounted in any suitable manner upon a base l2 and is provided with a normally closed drain [4 at the bottom thereof. A rigid circular partition [6 is provided within the tank It] intermediate its ends, presenting an upper compartment broadly designated by the numeral I 8, and a separate lower compartment that is designated generally by the numeral 20.

A plurality of hay sections are optionally provided in each compartment l8 and that includes circular perforated panels 22 for the compartment 20 and a pair of spaced apart parallel foraminous panels 24 within the compartment IS. A vertical partition 26 is provided in the compartment l3 extending entirely transversely thereacross in chord-like manner and terminating at its lowermost end in spaced relationship with respect to the uppermost face of the solid partition IS. The foraminous panels 24 accordingly are not fully circular and abut the proximal face of the vertical partition 2 6.

A vertical, tubular downcomer 28 within the tank 10 extends through all of the panels 22 and 24 as well as through the partition [5, the uppermost end of downcomer 28 being in spaced relationship with respect to the uppermost end of tank I0 above the uppermost panel 24 and the lowermost end of downcomer 28 terminating above the bottom of tank ID below the lowermost panel 22.

A vertical pipe 3!] on one face of the partition 26 opposite to the panels 24 extends at its uppermost end above a horizontal plane through the uppermost end of downcomer 28 and spaced below the top of tank If]. Pipe 30 at its lowermost end extends through the partition 26 just above the lowermost end of the latter and terminates in a diverter box 32 within the compartment I8 and on the same side of partition 26 as the panels 24.

A separator tank 34 on the uppermost end of the tank [0 is similar in construction to that disclosed in my aforesaid co-pending application and while the details of construction and operation thereof form no part of this invention, and need not be described, such separator has a mist extractor 36 therewithin, together with a condenser 38 for gas vapors. Separator 34 removes free gas vapors from the emulsion entering the separator 34 through inlet opening 40. Such gas vapors rise from the emulsion as the same enters the separator 34 while the emulsion falls by force of gravity and is directed downwardly from separator 34 by a line 42. Line 42 communicates at its lowermost end with a heat exchanger .4 from which the pressurized emulsion is again directed upwardly through a conduit 46 into the compartment I8 intermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof and on that side of partition 26 having pipe 30 thereon.

The emulsion is free to rise within the compartment l8 on the last mentioned side of partition 2B and the same obviously overflows into the pipe 30 after the level thereof has reached such height. From pipe 30, the emulsion is directed into the compartment I8 immediately below a furnace, broadly designated by the numeral 48, disposed beneath the lowermost panel 24. Obviously, some water contained within the emulsion will descend in the compartment I 8 as the same enters through conduit 45 and the level of such Water within compartment 18, on that side of partition 25 having pipe 30, will normally be maintained adjacent the lowermost end of pipe 3!] as will hereinafter appear. Furthermore, through use of the water draining system forming the subject matter hereof and about to be described, the level of water within compartment IS, on that side of partition 26 having furnace 46 therein, will be maintained. immediately below the lowermost panel 24.

Consequently, emulsion entering and passing through the diverter 32 will immediately rise within the water in compartment 18 and a relatively long bath for the emulsion will result as the same passes over and impinges upon the heated walls of furnace 43. The emulsion will continue to rise within the compartment 1 8, while water removed therefrom will settle until the emulsion attains a level adjacent the uppermost end of downcomer 28 where the same will over flow and be directed into the compartment 29.

A tube 50 communicating with the compartment 2B, slightly below the partition [8, drains the water-free petroleum products from the tank In and directs the same to the heat exchanger 44. From heat exchanger 44, the treated oil products are directed to stock tanks or other storage means through a pipe 52. It is clear that the relatively hot petroleum products entering heat exchanger 44 by Way of tube 50 will be cooled within the heat exchanger 44 inasmuch as the cooler emulsion entering heat exchanger 44 by way of line 42 will absorb a substantial amount of the heat from the finished products. Consequently, the emulsion is pre-heated prior to entrance into separator 34 resulting in an immediate separation of free gas from the emulsion as the same passes through inlet 40.

The water siphoning or draining system form ing the subject matter hereof includes, first, means for evacuating the water in compartment I8 and directing the same into the compartment 20. Such means includes a substantially U- shaped conduit having a short vertical branch 54 and a longer vertical branch 56. The lowermost end of the branch 54 terminates adjacent the uppermost face of partition [6 while the uppermost ends of branches 54 and 56, and the bight 58 of the U-shaped conduit, are disposed just below the uppermost panel 24 and within a horizontal plane spaced below a second horizontal plane through the uppermost end of the downcomer 28.

A short, vertical pipe 60 places the bight portion 58 into communication with the compartment I8 at the uppermost end of the latter. A second U-shaped conduit has a relatively long leg 62 within the compartment 20, a bight 64 extending through the tank l0 and a shorter, vertical leg 66 exteriorly of the tank [0. The lowermost end of the leg 62 is adjacent the lowermost end of branch 56 while the uppermost ends of the legs 62 and 66, as well as the bight 64, are above the panel 22 and spaced below the lowermost face of partition IS. The leg 56 may be coupled with any suitable means (not shown) for conveying water from the tank 10 to a suitable salt water disposal or other use as desired.

A shut-off valve 68, disposed preferably bellWeBn ght 64 and leg 66, is provided with an automatic control, broadly designated by the num r 0- h (Joni/r01 includes a housing 12 "having a partitioning flexible diaphragm M therewithin. "Housing 1-2 is placed into communication with branch 56 on one side of diaphragm I l by an L -shaped conduit 16.

Conduit i6is interposed between the partition tially horizontal and unflexed, .valve 63 is'held closed by means of a weight connected .with in such toggle mechanism. A similar control, broadly .designated'by the numeral 62,is provided for a shut-01f valve 58:3 interposed within the tube '50. Controls? is likewise provided with a diaphragm 86 communicating with tubeifiil by means of a short pipe extensiondi) and-a weight 88' holds valve 84 normally closed.

The line 42 is similarly provided with a shutoff valve 92 having an automatic control 94 connected-within theline d2 in the same manner as control SZisinterposed in tube 553. Gas vapors rising from the emulsion as thesame enters tank l8 byway of conduit 46, are freeto pass upwardlyinto atank 66 on the uppermost end of tank 16, there being a second tank 98 within tank 66 for receiving gas vapors rising above downcomor 23 and passing into tank as by means of an L-shaped pipe Hill. Gas vapors from tank 16, also passinto condenser 38 by means of a conduit l 02. Condensate is directed from condenser 33 and from the tank 96 by means of a line E54 that communicates with the compartment 29 of tank it) immediately below the lowermost panel 22. Emulsion emanating from extractor 36 is returned to the separator 35 by means of a drain 166. A conduit 108 having a back pressure valve I I6 and a safety relief valve l 22 interposed therein, directs gas vapors from separator 3 to the tank 96.

Tank 96 has an outlet lit for gas vapors that may have connection with furnace it if desired or communicate withother points of use or stor age for the vapors emanating from tank 96.

It is seen therefore, that the entire system is closed and that equalization of pressure is provided for throughout. tion includes the uppermost ends of branches 5% and 56 where gas vapors are free to enter pipe 66 and create an equalization of pressure upon the level of liquid in both of branches 54 and 56 as the system is placed into automatic operation. L

Obviously, the level of water-within the branch 54 is directly dependent upon the combined head of oil and water within the compartment I8. With the distance between the uppermost end of downcomer 23 and the uppermost ends of branches 54 and 56 properly chosen, the aforesaid level of water within compartment is above furnace d3, will be maintained immediately below the lowermost panel 24. As long as such water in compartment 1 8 maintains such level, the level of water in branch 54 will be adjacent to the bight 5,8, but noflow of water will be present from branch 54 to branch 56. As the emulsion impinges upon the furnace ife however, water will be removed therefrom and settle within the com partment l8, raising the water to a higher level approaching the lowermost panel E i and even extending thereabove. Because of the differential in densities of the oil and the water in compartment I8, as soon as an increase of water in Such pressure equalizaproportion "toroiluoccurs in compartment T8, :the

level of 'waterin branches :will rise :and "overflow into .bight' 58 and into the branchi56. Such overflow of water intozbranch Fit' willrcontinue "until. such time as :the aforesaid :predetermined level .of water tin tank L8 .belowthe lowermost panel 24, is again reached.

Gas pressure above the uppermost :liquidlevel adjacent the top of downcomer will not-cause a raising of the water level in branch 254 :because this same pressure .iis directed ztoibranch 4 via pipe 6 B. .Asxwill' hereinafter appear,:said .uppermost liquid level will :be maintainedsubstantially at a predetermined :point with respectto down- .comer .28. Consequently there will :at :no :time

be any appreciable -.variance .of :the overall ':vol-

ume of liquid incompartment,tB-to'afiectthe water level in branch 54.

As oil continues to flow into the compartment 26, by wayof downcomer:23,:it:will ;fiow:.therefrom through tube 50 under control of' valveifi l and diaphragm'86. ,BSince diaphragmilfiis5sensitive'only to the headof-oil ingdowncomerflfl; above diaphragm 86combined with any head ,of .oilin compartment 18 above the ,upper end .:of :downcomer 28, valve184 will :bemoved towardtthe open condition as the volume of :liquid increases in compartment 18 and will be movedatoward'the closed position as the liquid level ;in compartment I8 drops.

Accordingly, as above aexplained with'respect to the water level:in branch :5.4,';there"will :bea predetermined volume of liquid :maintained in compartment 18 .at all times, eliminating "any effect on:thezwatenlevel'in-branch 56 that would otherwise be present if valve .8 3 "werenot provided to control the liquid level in compartment l8.

It is contemplated that thenormalwater level in compartment 20 be maintained :between the lower end of downcomerv ZB-andthe lower ends of branch 56 and leg-62. 'Thehead of oiland'water in compartment 2%, plus'thehead of oilin downcomer 28 above partition "I6, :together "with the head of any oil above downcomer 28, will normally maintain the water level in branch-56 ata point above partition 1| 6 when the water level in compartment 20 is-:atthe aforesaid normal level.

With the proper closing of weight 80, as :soon as the water in branch 66 rises above its normal level therein, the increased head on diaphragm 14, through conduit .16, will flex diaphragm'M upwardly to .open "valve '68. Manifestly, "as such level in branch .56 continues to ,rise, valve 68 will,

jICV GI iII compartment 120, which is in turn occasioned by fiowof water from rompar ment l8 & compartment 26 :via branches 54 and 5.6 As long :as water flows into compartment 20 at a constant ,rate, valve 68 "will remain open .to drain water from compartment 26 at the same rate by wayof leg 62, bight -BA and leg 66. As soon'as the rate of flow of water .irom compartment It to compartment 29 .decreases, the water level in compartment 20 Willfall, decreasing the-proportion ofwater tooil in compartment 20. This results in a lowering of the water level in branch 56,,a decrease "inhead pressure on diaphragm M, a progressive movement of valve 68 to a'closed position, and a decrease in the rate of flow of water from leg 66.

As above pointed out, gas pressure on the liquid level in compartment l8 will not cause a "drainage of all water from compartment l8 because such pressure is equalized on the water level in branch 54. By the same token, such pressure acting through downcomer 28 will not raise the level of water in branch 56 with a consequent drainage of all water from compartment 20 since pipe 60 also communicates with branch 56 and the gas pressure is equalized on the water level in branch 56.

Obviously, diaphragm 86 should be sensitive to slight changes in the liquid level in compartment l8 so that such changes will not effect diaphragm 10. In other words, an increased head because of rising of the liquid level above downcomer 28, would also cause a slight raising of the water level in branch 56. However, valve 84 will respond immediately to lower the level in compartment [8 to normalcy, preventing a water level rise in branch 56.

Manifestly, diaphragm I4 is directly sensitive to the head changes in branch 56 which head is in addition to any liquid heads acting on diaphragm 86. Since diaphragm 86 is only remotely effected by head changes in branch 56, i. e. that above the level of diaphragm 86, the latter will not respond upon a mere rise or lowering of the water level in branch 56.

It is seen that through such system, a water meter H6 of any conventional character, may be interposed in bight 64 between valve 68 and tank to accurately measure the amount of water that is contained in the emulsion initially pumped from a well. It is further apparent, that leakage of valve 68 is immaterial since such leakage will be measured by the meter l6, and further since leg 62 and branch 64 are always filled with water. Unless the leakage of valve 68 is extreme, such leakage will not be greater than the amount of water contained in the emulsion as the same is pumped into the inlet 49.

It is seen further that the rate of outward flow of the clean oil through tube 50, is controlled by the valve 84 and its control means 82.

The level of water in the compartment 29 will alway be below the tube 50 and, therefore, only clean oil will flow from the treater to heat exchanger 44 by way of tube 50. By the same token, the level of water in compartment 20 will always be above the lowermost end of branch 56 and leg 62, whereby only Water fiows through leg 62, bight 64 and leg 66. The entire system properly pre-set and adjusted with respect to the various valve controls, will operate automatically for an indefinite period of time and the various bodies of water and oil within the tank ID, will always be maintained at a substantially constant level. Water will fiow from the compartment l8 to the compartment 20 by slowly dumping through the bight 58 immediately upon any slight rise in the water level within compartment l8 below the lowermost panel 24. By the same token, such dumped water passing downwardly into the branch 56 and thence into the compartment 20, will immediately cause a rise of the water level in branch 56 with a consequent immediate operation of control 10 and opening of valve 68. As the flow of water from branch 54 to branch 56 increases in volume, valve 68 will be progressively opened by the control 10 until the full capacity of leg 66 is approached. Conversely, slight decreases in the volume of water flow from 8 branch 54 to branch 56 will cause a progressive closing of the valve 68 and consequent decrease in the volume of water flow through leg 66.

Accordingly, there has been provided a water siphoning or drainage system for oil treaters that is completely balanced and operable to maintain a balance or equilibrium during continuous operation irrespective of drastic variances in the water content of the emulsion as the same is pumped from a well or number of wells.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. siphoning apparatus for separating oil and water comprising an upright tank having a horizontal partition, presenting an upper and a lower compartment, an inlet for oil and water to be separated communicating with the upper compartment, and an oil outlet communicating with the lower compartment; a vertical tube in the tank, extending through said partition and dis posed to receive oil from the upper compartment for gravitation into the lower compartment; a first vertical pipe in the upper compartment hav ing a lowermost, open end; a second vertical pipe extending through said partition and connected with the first vertical pipe at the uppermost end of the second pipe for draining Water from the upper compartment to the lower compartment; a third vertical pipe in the lower compartment having a lowermost open end and extending through the tank at the uppermost end of the third pipe to a point of discharge exteriorly of the tank; a valve in said third vertical pipe; and pressure responsive means in said second vertical pipe and coupled with said valve for controlling the latter to maintain a predetermined level of water in the compartments.

2. siphoning apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lowermost end of said tube is disposed above the lowermost encis of the second and third pipes.

3. Siphoning apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the point of connection between the first and the second Vertical pipes is disposed below the uppermost end of said tube.

4. siphoning apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said oil outlet is provided with a conduit having a valve provided with pressure responsive means coupled therewith for controlling the level of oil in the compartments.

ELMER R. VJILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,016 Darrow Oct. 6, 1896 745,519 Pravicha et al Dec. 1, 1903 835,216 Crozier Nov, 6, 1906 1,748,541 Davitt et a1. Feb. 25, 1930 2,025,883 Mobley Dec. 31, 1935 2,342,950 Lovelady et a1. Feb. 29, 1944 2,384,222 Walker Sept. 4, 1945 2,398,338 Walker Apr. 9, 1946 2,457,959 Walker Jan. 4, 1949 

